Tail Light Switch problems of the 2005 Toyota Prius

I was driving at night on I-75n and another car pulled up beside me and gestured that something was wrong. We both pulled off the interstate and they told me that I had no tail lights and no license plate light. They were afraid that someone would ram me since I had no rear end running lights. I also noticed that my glove compartment light was out. I opened the hatch and then slammed it and the right tail light and license plate lights came back on. I proceed home under flashers in the right hand lane of the interstate. The next day I took it to the cobb county Toyota dealer and they said that all the bulbs were burned out. I asked how could all those lights go out at once and they said it happens. I authorized them to replace all the bulbs. They later contacted me and said that they did not have a replacement bulb for the glove compartment and I told them to forget about that and we could replace it later. The lights are working fine but strangely the glove compartment light started working after they replaced all the other rear lights and that light has faithfully worked to this day even though it was not replaced during the same service call to replaced the "burned out" tail lights and license plate light the brake lights, turn signal and flashers all worked on the evening of 12/20/10 during the time that the tail and license plate lights went out. Having had this happen at high speeds on a busy interstate at night was most upsetting and to have all these lights go out at once seems suspicious, particularly when the glove compartment light was declared as "burned out" by dealer, not replaced and now works perfectly.

Had car since new in 2005. Bought an extended service agreement that was prepaid. The car had regular maintenance at manufacturers recommended intervals. The electrical system has been a source of frustration regarding all head and tail lights. The lights fail frequently,especially all rear lights with no warning. Many have been replaced. The headlights are a huge headache. To have the dealer replace the bulbs cost about $250-$300. If there is more than just a bulb replacement, the cost could go as high as $1000+. This is highway robbery.

Tail light and both headlights went out within a few weeks of each other. Folsom lake Toyota charged by $450. 00 to replace the first bulb that I purchased 4 weeks later from napa auto parts for $93. 00. Folsom lake Toyota claims they ran a diagnostic and that there are no electrical problems four weeks before second headlight and license plate bulb went out.

-the contact owns a 2005 Toyota pruis. The contact stated that the tail and headlights intermittently fail. A reduction of visibility due to head-lamp failure increases the risk of vehicle crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the technicians were unable to identify the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The failure and current mileages were 189,000.

I had been pulled over on several occassions for faulty tail lights. This has been ongoing since I bought the car. Then my children told me of the front head lights going out for no reason. I did not believe them till the went out on me. After taking it to several Toyota dealers and said that there is nothing wrong, on 09/10/2009 I filed a complaint with a "monica" from the NHTSA in DC. I have yet to hear anything to this date and I am afraid of a serious crash when the lights go out without knowing why. I also have a check light that has been on since before my warranty went out and no one wants to correct the problem. I hate this car, it scares me and there are other issues and I have to date only received one recall and that is on the mats.